Figure skating may not be the most popular sport out there, but anyone who has wobbled their way across the ice knows that professionals deserve nothing but respect and admiration. The acrobatics they manage while balancing on thin blades are just incredible.
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If you’re still skeptical, 15-year-old Anna Shcherbakova is sure to change your mind!
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At just 3 years old, Anna began training with some of Russia’s most prestigious coaches. Ever since then, she has been dominating the sport, taking the gold medal in the 2016 Russian Youth Championships and the silver a year later (in her first competition after breaking her arm).
Unfortunately, she broke her leg that summer, which forced her to sit out for the majority of the 2017-2018 season.
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At this point, many people would walk away. We’d certainly be done after having two serious injuries in one year, but not Anna!
Despite her long absence, when she returned for the 2018-2019 season, she quickly moved back up the ladder. After coming in first place in the short program and free skate at the ISU Junior Grand Prix Slovakia, she walked away with another gold medal, beating her closest competitor by 18 points.
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But that was just the tip of the iceberg! During her debut as a senior competitor, Anna came in third place for the short program – and then made history in her free program.
During her routine, she became the first woman to ever land a quadruple lutz in the senior competition. She also pulled off an iconic costume change – while she was skating!
Then she upped the ante even more by becoming the first woman to ever land two quadruple lutz jumps in an international competition. Basically, this 15-year-old is well on her way to taking over the figure skating world.
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Anna is breaking records left and right, and she’s only getting better. We expect she’ll become an Olympic legend, and given her talent, we won’t judge you if you root for her despite the fact that she won’t be on the U.S. team.
Check out Anna’s historic routine (and cool costume change) in the video below, and don’t forget to share!
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